Drug interactions
Chlorpropamide + Ethanol
Severity: Major
Chlorpropamide and Ethanol: major interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Chlorpropamide is the sulfonylurea most strongly associated with a disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol, producing flushing, headache, nausea and palpitations. Alcohol also increases the risk of prolonged hypoglycemia in patients on this long-acting drug.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlorpropamide and Ethanol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase leads to acetaldehyde accumulation, while alcohol-induced suppression of gluconeogenesis adds to sulfonylurea hypoglycemia.
What to do
Counsel the patient to avoid alcohol completely; consider switching to a newer sulfonylurea or another class if abstinence is unlikely.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Chlorpropamide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlorpropamide with Ethanol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Chlorpropamide and Ethanol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Chlorpropamide is the sulfonylurea most strongly associated with a disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol, producing flushing, headache, nausea and palpitations. Alcohol also increases the risk of prolonged hypoglycemia in patients on this long-acting drug.
How serious is the interaction between Chlorpropamide and Ethanol?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel the patient to avoid alcohol completely; consider switching to a newer sulfonylurea or another class if abstinence is unlikely.
What other medicines interact with Chlorpropamide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Chlorpropamide with, for example, Exenatide, Insulin degludec-insulin aspart, Insulin degludec-liraglutide. The full list is on the Chlorpropamide page.
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